Folding card table



July 25, 1939- K. o. MUEHLBE'RG FOLDING CARD TABLE UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE I. Y Y 2,167,15'81 I Y,

FOLDING CARDy TABLET Karl 0. Muehlberg, Manitowoc, Wis. Application July 17, 1937, seriaiNo. 154,170` I' 1 Claim.- ,(01. 311-82) This invention 'relates Mto improvements in folding card tables.

It is a primary ob-ject of the present invention to provide an improved and efficient type of folding card table wherein manual movement of one of the table supporting legs will serve to automatically move and operate all of the other supporting legs to and from folded or collapsed positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding card table wherein the legs are arranged for joint and simultaneous folding and unfolding movements, each leg having segment gear and rack operating means with a common pivotal plate to which all of the racks are connected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding card table wherein the legs are braced in supporting position by jointed brace members which fold compactly against the under surface of the table top when the legs are collapsed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding card table wherein the leg operating mechanism is simple and is compactly disposed and in which assembly may be accomplished very easily and expeditiously.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding card table which is of very simple construction, which is strong and durable, which is easy to manipulate, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved folding card table, and its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claim, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved folding card table in set-up or unfolded condition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged inverted plan View of the table with the legs unfolded;

Fig. 3 is a similar view only with the legs folded against the under surface of the table top;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and on a larger scale; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that the table includes a plied top member 8, preferably of square contour and having downwardly projecting peripheral flanges 9,` whereby the under surface'V ofthe top is recessed. A circular bearing plate III is screwed to the central portion of the under surface of the top 8 and the same is provided with a central, downwardly projecting pivot stud II on which an oscillatory operating plate I2 is pivotally mounted. The projecting end of said stud is threaded to receive a winged nut I3 for removably holding the parts in assembled relationship.

At each of the four corners of the table top is a supporting leg, said legs being designated by the numerals I4, I5, I 6 and I'I respectively and the upper end of each leg being disposed just inwardly of the junction of a pair of adjacent rails or flanges 9. For the pivotal or folding mounting of each leg, at each corner of the top 8 adjacent its inner surface and inwardly of the rails are a pair of spaced bearing brackets I8 and I9 through which a pivot pin 2li is revolubly mounted. The upper or inner end of a leg is cut out, providing a reduced portion 2l and an angular recess 22. The reduced portion 2| of a leg is mounted. fast on an intermediate portion of a pivot pin 20, as is a segment gear 23 which is secured to the leg within the recess 22. It will be observed from the drawing that the brackets I8 and. I9, and the pivot pin 20, are soy arranged, and the upper end of each leg is so mounted relative to the respective brackets and pivot pin therefor, that in folded condition each leg extends adjacent and parallel to a diierent rail or flange 9 of the table, with the free end of one leg being adjacent the secured or inner end of an adjacent leg.

For the operation of each leg there is slidably mounted on the inner surface of the top 8, parallel to the rail 9 adjacent which the particular leg folds, a rack 24, each rack being slidable between a pair of guide blocks 25. The teeth of the rack are adapted to engage the teeth of the segment gear 23 attached to the leg to be operated by said rack.

The joint and simultaneous movement of all four of the racks 24 and consequent joint and simultaneous folding and unfolding of all of the table legs is accomplished by virtue of the oscillatory plate I2 previously mentioned. Said plate carries, at ninety degree intervals, four radially, outwardly projecting arms 26. 'Ihe outer angled end of each arm has a pin and slot connection, as at 21, with the rack 24 thereadjacent.

Each of the legs is braced in open or unfolded position by a sectional folding brace, a brace including a link element 28 and a bracket 29 to which the inner end of the link is pivotally se- 2 Y Y Y cured, as at 30. It will be observed that with respect to each leg the angled end of a link is rigidly attached to an intermediate portion of the leg, and a bracket 29 is secured to the under.- side of the table top 8 along the side edge thereof at a ninety degree angle to the side along which said leg folds. In the unfolded position of the legs said braces assume the positions shown in Fig. 2 and rigidly hold the legs. When the legs are folded against the under surface of the table top, as in Fig. 3 the links pivot relative to the brackets 29 and assume the positions shown.

The operation of the improved folding card table is obvious from the foregoing description. When it is desired to fold or unfold the legs it is merely necessary to grasp and move one of the same, and through arms 26, vthe plate 12,'the racks 24 and the segment Vgears 23Vthe same movement will be imparted to`all of the other legs.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved folding card table is of simple and novel construction, and is Well adapted for being slidably mounted along a different side edge portion of the under surface of the top and being engaged with the gear of the adjacent leg, a platerotatably mounted on the under surface of the top, spaced-apart, radially projecting arms integral with said plate, and a pin and slot connection between Ythe outer end of each arm and an adjacent rack.

KARL O. MUEHLBERG. 

